Types of
Surgical Procedures
Arthrodesis:
a bone fusion done to
relieve pain, usually
in the ankles,
wrists, fingers and
thumbs. The two bones
forming a joint are
joined together so
that the resulting
fused joint loses
flexibility. However,
a fused joint can
bear weight better,
is more stable and is
no longer painful.
Arthroscopy:
the use of a tool
called an
arthroscope, a very
thin tube with a
light at the end, to
see directly into the
joint through a small
incision in the skin.
The arthroscope is
connected to a
closed-circuit
television and allows
the physician to see
how much damage there
is, and to treat what
may be causing pain,
such as torn meniscus
cartilage (the
cartilage disk in
between the two
articular surfaces of
a joint), articular
cartilage debris,
synovial or joint
lining tissue and
ligaments. This
procedure is done
most often on knees
and shoulders.
Arthroplasty:
the rebuilding of
joints. This can be
done by resurfacing
or relining the ends
of bones when
cartilage has worn
away and bone has
been destroyed.
Arthroplasty also
refers to total joint
replacement.
Osteotomy:
the correction of
bone deformity by
cutting and
repositioning the
bone, ideally in
people with
misalignment of
certain joints and
mild osteoarthritis.
Osteotomy can correct
the forces across the
joint, particularly
for weight-bearing
joints of the knee.
It is also useful in
people with
unilateral hip
osteoarthritis who
are too young for a
total hip
replacement.
Resection:
the removal of part
or all of a bone.
This is often done
when diseased joints
in the foot make
walking very painful
and difficult, or to
remove painful
bunions. Resection on
part of the wrist,
thumb or elbow can
help improve function
and relieve pain.
Revision Joint
Surgery:
the replacement of
artificial joints and
damaged bone with
special plastic and
metal parts. This
surgery is necessary
when a previous joint
replacement wears
out. It is more
difficult and takes
longer than total
joint replacement
surgery. As always,
make sure your doctor
is experienced in
this type of surgery.
View an animation of
revision hip surgery
or revision knee
surgery.
Synovectomy:
the removal of the
synovium or tissues
lining the joints.
This reduces pain and
swelling of
rheumatoid arthritis
and prevents or slows
down the destruction
of joints. However,
the synovium often
grows back several
years after surgery
and the problem can
happen again.
Synovectomy can be
done by surgically
opening the knee or
with arthroscopy.
Total joint
replacement: the
removal of damaged
bone or joint tissue,
which is then
replaced with metal,
ceramic and plastic
parts. This surgery
has been widely used
for many years with
excellent results,
especially for knees
and hips. Other
joints, such as
shoulders, elbows and
knuckles, may also be
replaced. This
surgery has enabled
many people who were
severely disabled to
become more active.
View an animation of
total hip replacement
, total knee
replacement or total
shoulder replacement
surgery.
Unicondylar Knee
Replacement:
a procedure used when
only one of the two
major joint
compartments of the
knee - medial or
lateral - is severely
involved with
arthritis. The knee
joint has three
compartments -
medial, lateral and
the kneecap
compartment. The
advantages of a
unicondylar versus a
total knee joint
replacement include
less bone loss at
surgery, easier
revision when and if
that becomes
necessary and a
usually shorter
operating time and
recovery period.
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